Insulator connection



Aug- 18 1931 D. H.A osBoRNE l 1,819,380 INSULATOR CONNEG-TION Filed Feb. 4, 1924 Patented ugQlS, 1931 yUNITED STATES g PATENT OFFICE rDAVID H. OSBORNE, OF VICTOR, NEW YORK, ASSIGCNOR` TO LOCKE INSULATOR COR-y l PORKATION,A OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, `A CORPORATION F MARYLAND INSULATOR Application filed February n ff yThe linvention relates to insulators, and more particularly to khigh tension insulators ,of the so-called suspension type.. s yThe principal object of my invention, gen- Y erally considered, is to provide an impro-ved form of interlocking connection between insulators of the suspension type whereby the same may be readily connected in strings or series and disconnected therefrom.

To this end I provide a cap member having an inverted T-shaped slot or recess therein,

, thel walls of the said recess being adapted to `interlockingly engage a headed member afixed to a companion insulator or to a sup- A port.

' *Anothery object of the invention is to provide means in connection with the type of connectionabove described which will effectually prevent the accidental or unintentional v disengagement of said parts and which will at the same time readily permit engagement or disengagement of said parts. A still further object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with an interlockring connection as hitherto described, a locking member having of itself an interlocking connection ywith one of said members,fsaid interlocking connection permitting of man- `ualinovement `of the said locking member from or to` locked position.

'A still further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a socketed capk having an inverted T-shaped recess, guiding members formed on or connected to the base k of said socket member, and a locking member l movably positioned between usaid guiding members, said locking member comprising a n y `features whereof -being pointed out in the'appended claims. y

- v, In the drawings:

CONNECTION 4, 19211.V Serial No. 690,453.

,tion and partially in vertical section of a sus pension insulator showing the invention. applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional -view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, the 4 direction of view being indicated by the arrows adjacent the ends of said section line.7

Figuret is afragmentary view partially in plan and partially in section, showing the locking member in unlocked position.

Throughout the specification and drawings like parts are designated by like reference characters.

Thenumeral 1 designates generally a suspension insulator comprising a body portion 2 formed of a suitable dielectric, such for instance as porcelain ,or the like, the said body portion having a downwardly flaring skirt `portion 3 vfrom which there extends a neck p or stem 4 symmetrically arranged withreference to the skirt portion and to which is connected, in any desirable manner, a cap 5. The

neck or stem 4 ishollow and secured therewithin is the connecting` member 6 having a disk-shaped head 7. The cap portion comprises a truncated body portionS closed atthe upper end by a wall or partition 9 from which extends a substantially conoidal-shaped head 10. The said head is providedwith a radial slot 11 which is intersected by a substantially vertical slot 12, the latter adjacent the base portion being laterally extended, as at 13, on opposite sides of the slotr 11. It will be understood that the slot 11 extends slightly beyond the center of the conoidal head and is adapted to receive the stem 14 of the coacting connecting Vmember, 15, the latterA being provided with a disk-shaped head 16. The construction so far describedis shown in the Austin patent No. 947,274.

f Since the slot 12 intersects with kthe slot 11 at a point of center and since the head 10 is of hollow conoidal-shape it will be obvious that there is formed within the head a semispherical surface substantially coincident with the semispherical surface of the diskshaped head 1G. lt will also be obvious that the head 16 cannot escape from this recess eX- Cept by combined vertical and lateral relative movements of either ot said parts. It has been Common practice to prevent such relative movement by insertino' through an opening, suoli as the opening 1T in the wall of this conoidal head, a Cotter pin whose t iameter is greater than the distance the head 16 must move vertically in order to disengage. It will likewise be obvious that should the Cotter pin be omitted or fall out in service that a j c rk on the conductor supported by a string of 1H- sulators, such as is often caused by the sudden release of snow or ice carried bythe conductor, will impart to the string of insulators both vertical and lateral movements an l, as has been stated, should the Cotter pin either become displaced or omitted this sudden movement of the insulator string is sutlicient to cause a disconnection ot the parts and a. dropping of the conductor.

To overcome these defects I provide on the base or wall 9 a pair of ieferably tapered or wedge-shaped rib mem ers 18, said members having their greatest height adjacent the center of the insulator and I substitute for the Cotter of the well known type a special form of hairpin Cotter 19, said Cotter comprising a pair of spaced arms 20 each of which is provided adjacent the head 21 with an inwardly directed portion 22 forming the notches 23.' Convenient-ly, the free ends of the arms 2O are turned outwardly, as at 24, to prevent the accidental disengagement between the Cotter and recess when the parts are in unlocked position. The guiding members 18 lie on opposite sides of the arms 20 and are adapted to prevent a sidewise movement of the Cotter. The ribs 18 are tapered or inclined downwardly toward the slot in the cap to facilitate removal or disengagement of the head of the bolt from within the recess or socket when the Cotter is removed.

It will be observed from Figure 2 that when the Cotter is in locked position the notches 23 are in interlocking' engagement with the sides of the opening 17 and, owing to the elasticity of the Cotter, all chance of accidental disengagement between the Cotter andthe opening 17 is avoided. At the same time the approach planes leading to the notches 23 are so gradual that it is an easy matter to force the Cotter into interlocking position by means of pressure applied by hand or by gentle blows with the end of a stick. It might lead to a better understanding of the importance of this invention to state that insulators of this type are often connected and disconnected without shutting off power on the line and it is of tremendous advantage and importance to provide an interlocking connection which may be moved from or to interlocked position with a minimum of force since it 1s often necessary, after a detective insulator is in place and the line is swung back to suspension position, to torce the locking member into locked position by a long stick in the hands of the lineman.

The advantages of my invention are believed to be obvious from the foregoing description. It might be well., however, to point out that by using a spring Cotter of the type herein described in which the deformation of the Cotter is but slight from locked to unlocked position that the spring tension is not aiiqected by its continual inward and out- Wlld movement and hence the need of replacement ot cotters is avoided and all necessity for spreading the legs of the Cotter, which is common practice now, is avoided. By providing guiding members within the conoidal head all possibility of the Cotter twisting so as to escape from under the head is obviated and by the combined use of my novel hairpin Cotter and guiding members I provide an effectual interlock which obviates all the diiculties heretofore experienced with this type ot' insulators.

l Claim 1. The combination with a suspension insulator, of a cap therefor ha fing a hollow projection at its top formed with a slot in its top and an opening in its side communicating with the slot, a headed bolt adapted to have its head engaged within said hollow projection and including a stem portion adapted to extend through said slot, said hollow projection having an opening in its side opposite Said first named opening, a retaining member extending through said last named opening at right angles to the axis ot the cap and bolt and located beneath the head of the latter for preventing disengagement of the bolt from the cap, said retaining member being in interlocking engagement with the second named opening to prevent withdrawal, and means within the projection engageable by op osite sides of the retaining member to guite the same and prevent lateral movement thereof, said last named means being formed as a pair of spaced ribs located in substantially .parallel relation to said retaining member.

2. The Combination with a suspension insulator, of a Cap therefor having a hollow projection at its top formed with a slot in its top and an opening in its side Communicating with the slot, a headed bolt adapted to have its head engaged within said hollow projection and including a stem portion adapted to extend through said slot, said hollow projection having an opening in its side opposite said tirst named opening, a. retaining member extending through said last named opening at right angles to the axis ot the Cap and bolt and located beneath the head of the latter for preventing disengagement of the bolt from the cap, said retaining member being in interlocking engagement with the second named opening to prevent Withdrawal, and means Within the projection engageable by opposite sides of the retaining member to guide the same and prevent lateral movement thereof, said last named means being formed as apair of spaced ribs located in substantially parallel relation to said retaining member, said ribs gradually decreasing in height toward the first named opening to avoid interference With insertion or removal of the bolt.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

t DAVID H. OSBORNE. 

